Patrick Ndagijimana is the Managing Director of Feed Plant Company Ltd. The idea of investing in pig farming and organic fertilizer came after completing a professional internship at Agrostudies, Rupin College, Israel (2023-2024). He also studied and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Crop Production from the University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB). Currently, he is pursuing an MSc in Agribusiness at the University of Rwanda."I started pig farming to deal with livestock dung waste and convert it into fertilizer that helps farmers to increase productivity sustainably without harming soil or environment.”
Using savings from casual jobs, he began pig farming to tackle livestock waste, transforming it into high-quality organic fertilizer that helps farmers boost their yields sustainably without harming the soil or environment. This passion led to the creation of Feed Plant Company Ltd, a company that processes pig and livestock waste, mixes it with plants, and makes high-quality organic fertilizer.
The company includes raising modern pig breeds such as Landrace, Large White, and Duroc at the FEED PLANT. The pigs are fed carefully balanced, nutrition-rich feeds prepared in-house, considering their growth stages.
Today, Feed Plant Company Ltd runs a piggery with a value of nearly 10 million RWF and a factory worth about 30 million RWF. The company processes pig waste and plant materials and produces quality organic fertilizers. It rears modern pig breeds, such as Landrace, Large White, and Duroc, feeding them nutrient-rich feeds that have been formulated according to their growth stages. The company has also undergone some challenges, as with every agribusiness, including market instability for pig feed and the sale of pigs during peak production time. However, thanks to trained and skilled staff, they can effectively control common diseases and keep the herd healthy.
The organic fertilizer manufactured by Feed Plant Company Ltd is enriched with nutrients like NPK, Ca, and Mg and is capable of restoring soil fertility, increasing the yield of crops, and promoting sustainable farming among others in conserving the environment.
The residents of Gicumbi District, Byumba Sector, Kibali Cell, benefit from Feed Plant Company Ltd activities in several ways:
- Employment Opportunities: The company creates jobs for the locals.
- Market Access for Farmers: Farmers of different livestock keepers and other crop farmers have been able to market their manure and other farm wastes at a well-priced local market.
- Capacity Building: The company trains farmers on compost production and best practices
- Affordable Products: Organic fertilizer and pigs are sold to neighbors at lower prices compared to other suppliers.
This, therefore, gives insight into the vision for the company's future expansion across Rwanda, including the implementation of modern livestock technologies as it produces quality organic fertilizers to become a center of excellence in agriculture and livestock.
Patrick’s advice to the Rwandan youth: “Be patient, learn every day, collaborate with those who have more experience, and turn problems into solutions. That’s how you create impact. “
Written by Jean Bernard MUKUNDENTE